ROBERT BANDA A.K.A ROBERTO
Robert Banda was born in Chipata the last in a family of nine and started he’s music career at the tender age of 12,
History has it he’s first song was sang upon birth and has since lived to love music, a Zambian citizen who started school in 1989 in chipata and completed he’s high school at Highlands North Boys School in Johannesburg South Africa, it was there that Robert Roberto took advantage of the studio facilities there, he recorded his first song at a studio owned by popular SOUTH African group BOOM SHAKA and it was this involvement that propelled Roberto’s career to later meet and work with great producers like Om Alek who has produced artists like Mirriam Makeba, Lebo Mathosa, Mafikizolo, MaLaika, Joe Nina and many more. Roberto met with late Brenda Fassie who advised him on the dos and don’ts in the industry
He then met a Zambia artist by the name of Harold, the two went into the studio and created Harold’s first gospel album called Universal Love and second album with Roberto handling the writing for Harold’s music.
He then signed on to MUN production a youth powerhouse Recording Company and worked on a R&B and Hip Hop compilation that brought artists from Angola, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa, and Roberto was the head producer and writer on this compilation that was released in February 2005, its then that South Africa now graced this Foreign Kid and made him the darling of every home it was he’s single on the compilation that attracted Universal Records South Africa and offered him a deal to release he’s first solo album STORY OF MY HEART, in addition to the introduction he got from Universal Roberto met a member of the group Mafikizolo who then was also living in the same road with Roberto, Roberto then started to tour around South Africa promoting he’s music.
Robert later returned to Zambia and started to work on an album filled with his native language called Nyanja, the album was released in 2007 and had great songs like Operator and M’tima Wako (Mtima Wako video was nominated for BEST VIDEO IN ZAMBIA and came second at the 2007 Born & Bred awards) and the light was on Roberto as he from no where came and brought a new feel on the Zambian scene.
He currently has a second album called AKASUBA that has now become one of the best seeling albums on the market as of May 29 2009 in Zambia, with two videos from this album namely SAVE OUR LOVE (This video was voted as the best video by viewers and the Video critic on a ZNBC TV show called BORN & BRED on 28th May 2009) and a Bengi video that also attracted overseas viewers and is now beaming on Trace TV.
This album also has hit songs like NIKUTASHA feat OZZY, DON”T SAY YOU DO, SAVE OUR LOVE, KA SPE NDE DWE feat SLAP D, AKASUBA, and others. This is Roberto’s 2009 release under Sling Beats/Brathahood music and Super Shine Investments respectively
Songs like Aksuba and Nikutasha, Words are not enough (These words), Ka Spe nde dwe and save our love have comfortably made it on local charts through out the country and are all in the top 5.
Roberto’s presence at the 2009 Mtv MAMA awards in Kenya sky rocketed he’s career as the connection with several African artists has now earned him a spot in major collaborations and with the new album in the making, you can certainly expect nothing but the best. Roberto has also been ear marked for the July compilation of Swedish Dj, Dj Mebbe’s Vol 24 album which features artists from all over the world.
In January 2010, Roberto’s Song Akasuba was crowned Song of the Year in Zambia as voted by all Zambian s beating 12 other songs by 12 artists, he got a 64% vote count. Making Roberto one of the Biggest artists in Zambia this year. As a hot commodity Roberto has now embarked on also promoting artists under he’s BrathaHood Music Label as he produces and writes their music.
In 2010 Roberto became part of a new African R&B Duo dubbed UZ47, the duo consists of Roberto and Toniks of Uganda, The two have embarked on working on an album together called Assault, the project was pioneered by Munyaradzi Daka currently based in Nigeria and Chali ‘Bravo’ Mulalami C.E.O of Sling Beats Entertainment. The album is currently in the making as recording are oncourse with Recordings already done in Uganda and Zambia respectively and will feature some of the Cream of African Top Artists.
With a past this interesting one would wonder what this wonder artist has planned next. He truly is on a path to greater things, also a Radio presenter on a local radio station Q Fm, he’s goal is to help local artist get exposed and reach out to the world, Roberto has since become one of the most respected artist and radio presenter in Zambia.
